BARRY children witnessed the stark realities of breaking the law in a new approach to tackling crime.

An education project, using a theatre group performing a play called The Crime Of Your Life, aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

On Friday, March 21, the group visited Barry Comprehensive School Year 7 pupils and returns tomorrow to Year 8.

It is a multi-agency scheme from the Vale of Glamorgan Community Safety Partnership.

Drama students from Coleg Glan Hafren use real props to bring the message home.

For example, the Prison Service use two real-life prisoners to give pupils an opportunity to questions them.

The narrative tracks the young Seb Spencer breaking the law through to adult Seb getting a custodial sentence.

The play follows events as Seb persists in committing crime, from receiving a police reprimand, working with a Youth Offending Team officer, meeting the victim, appearing in court until receiving a custodial sentence.

The Crime Of Your Life is followed by four workshops by the Community Safety Partnership.

They consist of the police, the Prison Service, the Youth Offending Team and the Crown Prosecution Service and magistrates.

The emphasis is on highlighting consequences of the range of choices young people face as individuals, members of social groups and the wider community.

It touches on peer pressure, relationships, alcohol and substance abuse.

Youth development officer for Barry, Usha Parmar, said: "This is the pilot. If it takes off as well as we hope we will expand to all the schools in the Vale."

Seventeen-year old David Reed who plays young Seb added: "Often, when young people are told something, it might not sink in.

While this is a simple message, it is a clear one."